Neuer Bahkauvbrunnen, Bronze fountain in Old Town, Aachen, Germany

The Neuer Bahkauvbrunnen is a bronze fountain in Aachen's Old Town featuring a mythical creature mounted on a central column with water flowing from its body. The installation stands between Büchel and Nikolausstrasse, surrounded by a circular drainage system topped with metal grates.

The original fountain dating to 1904 was melted down during World War II, and the current modernized version was installed in 1967. This reconstruction reflects how the city rebuilt its landmarks and local heritage following the war.

The Bahkauv is a calf-like creature from Aachen legend, said to lurk in the Kolbert, the sewer of the Bücheltherme, and to threaten men at night. The 1904 fountain showed a boy fetching water by day, a scene that departs from the legend, since the creature never harmed women or children and stayed hidden by day. The 1967 bronze instead gives the creature a feline look.

The fountain sits in the heart of the Old Town at a busy intersection and is easily accessible on foot from nearby attractions. Daytime visits offer the best view of the bronze sculpture and water features in action.

The 1967 bronze by Kurt-Wolf von Borries lets the water spout not from the creature's mouth but from nozzles in its tail, which coils around the column. The figure was read as more of a big cat than the shaggy calf of the legend, and the redesign replaced Karl Krauß's 1904 ensemble after a contested public debate.